Blue Sharks!

Jonah's soccer team this year is the Blue Sharks.

They had their first game last Saturday, and last night

Ruby, Milo, and I cheered them on in their second game.

(John, Bentley, and Maxwell were at a Webelos activity

listening to a rocket scientist talk about the Mars Rover.)

When Jonah got his new uniform, he gave last year's uniform

to Ruby. He has become her coach, and they occasionally

work on soccer things together. On the way home from the 

game last night, I overheard Jonah say to Ruby,

"I think you are a great soccer player . . .

AND . . . I think you are unmodest."

I just noticed that in this post Milo is wearing the same
outfit that Jonah was wearing is the previous post.

Ruby Goes to School

Ruby first went to school in 2007.
Can you tell she was super excited about it?

Although she's spent a good part of her 5 1/2 years
at the school, or going back and forth between home
and school, this was the first time she got to stay by herself!
Here she is, ready for her 1st day of kindergarten.

("This IS how I smile, Mom!" - kind of looks like her face in the first photo)

Her 1st day of school outfit was a big reveal this morning.

She wouldn't tell me what she was wearing, or

how she wanted me to do her hair until just before school.

Jonah was so excited to have Ruby at his school.

He spent the morning telling her everything she'd need to know.

Ruby found some friends right away

(unlike her brothers, who knew almost no one in kindergarten,

Ruby has a lot of friends and acquaintances in her class).

And then MORE friends arrived!

Not too long ago, Ruby told me that it felt like life was a movie,

and that it was all about her. I wonder how today felt for her?

John, Milo and I walked over to meet her after school.

She was in no hurry to find us - instead, she looked through the 

things she was bringing home, and talked to her friends.

I'm not sure whether Milo missed Ruby this morning,

or if he was grateful for the break.

Ruby says the day was good AND bad.

From what I can gather, the day would have been better

if Noah had played with HER instead of their friend Elizabeth.

Maybe tomorrow they will figure out how to play together.

Ruby and her sweet teacher.

(the one we hoped for all summer long)

Twelve Years!

Today was our twelfth anniversary!

(I remember when a friend of mine was celebrating her 12th anniversary.

We were on number 4 and I was so jealous. Now, here we are!)

John got a babysitter and we went to dinner.

Today was also Ruby's kindergarten evaluation.

She wore her favorite school outfit and took her backpack.

Four more days till she's a real-deal kindergartner!

Nine is Fine for Max

(photo by the talented Raquel)
Maxwell's August birthday got spread out this year.
It's hard to time parties with friends because of vacations,
school starting, and holiday weekends. We planned the
friend party early this year, hoping to avoid too many
conflicts. A couple good friends were unable to come,
but overall, the early party went well. He chose to
go to Nickel City (like last year), which was fine by me
because all we have to do is show up and the kids have
a great time. It's so easy. They played a game of lazer tag,
ate pizza, drank root beer, and spent nickels to earn tickets
to buy prizes (candy, toys, and hand cuffs).

A week after his friend party, Maxwell and I went on our date.

He chose Chili's because he loves their ribs.

Today he gets to "celebrate" his birthday by going to school.

Not the best birthday ever, but hopefully he will have a good

day, and Scouts and a family party will make up for it.

Other birthdays:

3

4

5

6

7

8

First Day 2012 (part 1)

The three older boys started school today.

Jonah's school started first, and it was odd to have

only one child to walk to school. He is a little nervous

not to have his brothers with him, but he will be great.

Bentley and Maxwell's new school is across town,

so we are carpooling with another family.I drove this

morning so I could be sure they got to their seats and that

everything was going okay. Both boys were nervous,

Bentley was especially goofy. I sure how this goes well.

Here they are before school.

And here are some stalker-mom photos after they

got into their seats. I will be so happy to have them home

this afternoon. I'm one nervous mom today.

past first days -

2007

2008, part 2

2009

2010, part 2, part 3

2011

I'm going to miss

having my kids at home and having free time.

School starts in the morning, and we are in for a busy year.

I hope it's also a really good one.

Idaho Falls Zoo 2012

playing around with cousins

the petting zoo

the animals (including the elusive snow leopard)

We Take on the Dragon

While we were in Idaho last week, we got to go to Heise.

(pronounced locally like "hi-c")

When my siblings and I were younger, it was one of 

our favorite places to go. They have a couple of warm

(hot) indoor swimming pools and one large outdoor pool,

but the real draw for us has always been the Dragon Slide.

It's still pretty fun! 

Warren, Becky, Mikey, Mindy, and I took turns

taking the littlest kids down the slide, and my boys

loved to go down by themselves. We wore ourselves

out running up the stairs to the slide over and over again.

John tried it twice at the end, and didn't hate it. :)

I can't remember the last time we went to Heise,

and I hope it won't be as long before we go again.

Idaho Falls 2012

Last week we made a quick trip to Idaho Falls.

I thought it would be fun to take the kids to the Temple

to see the landscaping changes. Jonah didn't agree.

He stayed home with Mikey and missed out on the pictures.

The kids had fun playing in the little pool at Grandma and Pa's

house with their cousins. They had even more fun after

Mindy added a few pitchers of hot water to the pool.

After their wedding last May, Mike and Jenny drove

to Pennsylvania for Mikey's internship. They got back 

earlier in the week, and my parents hosted a party to

introduce family and close friends to their new daughter-in-law.

The kids loved the party because they got to play the wii,

and Ruby got to (impromptu) perform with her cousins.

The End

The kids were sad to see the Olympics

 end yesterday for two reasons.

#1 - They really enjoyed watching the different sports.

#2 - They were happy to watch ANYTHING.

It was a welcome break from "the deal"

(they were allowed to watch TV

 if I was watching the Olympics with them)

The good news is that the end of the Olympics will quickly

be followed by the end of "the deal."

Tomorrow they will be free to watch tv or play computer games

(as long as their chores are finished).

The Grow Family Renunion

The last weekend in July we drove up to Salt Lake

for the Grow Family Reunion. My parents and Mindy

met us there, and big group of our California cousins

were there as well. They came decked out in t-shirts

with my Grandma's picture on them. We got to see everyone
very briefly, and I only got pictures of a few of them.
I think between my Mom and her two sisters we had
around 50 people there. It was so neat.

The reunion was for descendants of Henry Grow Jr.

He is my great-great-great grandfather, and he was 

also a bridge builder who designed the roof of the 

Tabernacle on Temple Square. We missed the dinner

and the family fireside, but we walked around Temple Square

and looked at the displays inside of the Tabernacle.

I hung out with my parents while they talked to some of my

Mom's cousins, while Mindy, John, and the kids explored.

Here are my parents with my Mom's cousins Loreen?,

and Scott. Then there are pictures of my Mom

and Ruby with my Mom's Uncle Cecil and my Dad

with my Mom's Uncle Wayne and a Texas cousin.

Wayne and Cecil are my Grandma Warren's last

living siblings. The bottom row of photos in this collage

has the wife of the Texas cousin, and Cecil and Wayne's wives.

I wish I could remember everyone's names.

I'm afraid the kids were kind of bored, but it was so,

so good to see family. I can't remember the last time I saw

most of them. We need to make a trip to northern California

one of these days. And seeing my Grandma's brothers 

and their wives was great. I wish she could have been there

to see the big Grow reunion and so many of her posterity.

August Five

trying to recreate a photo taken by Judy about 5 years ago -

unfortunately, I can't find the original. :( 

Bentley - Still likes baseball. Has gone through cowboy,

monsuno, ninjago, and a couple other phases in the last month.

Starts at a new school in two weeks and already has

three homework assignments. Whose idea was this?

Knew exactly what he wanted when we went shopping for 

school clothes: skinny jeans, under-armor type shirts, and t-shirts. 

Has been reading "The Boys Start the War" series of books.

Maxwell - Also starts a new school in two weeks. Unlike Bentley,

he won't know anyone in his class. We are both nervous.

Like Bentley, he also has homework assignments that are 

due on the first day of class. This is goofy.

Reading Fablehaven, after lots of "encouragement."

About to turn 9 and planning his party.

Jonah - He will be the oldest kid at our old/regular school.

He doesn't have homework yet, and we don't even

know who his teacher will be for 2nd grade.

He is hoping that he gets the youngest and prettiest teacher. 

Getting ready for fall soccer. Likes hawks and wolves.

Tried to buy school clothes with hawks on them.

Ruby - Has cut her bangs twice in the last couple of months.

Getting ready to start kindergarten, and we are all hoping that

she gets Jonah's kindergarten teacher. 

Registers for dance tomorrow. She loves to dance.

Seems to be talking less about "boyfriends" (knock on wood).

Was drawn to hot pink and sequins in her school shopping.

Milo - Potty trained! Still loves the Hulk and was so happy to

find a Hulk shirt when back-to-school shopping.

We are striking out on Joy School organization, so we're 

thinking about taking a music class together.

Will be my sidekick this year as all the other kids go to school.

Swimming Roundup

Swimming Lessons 2012 are over!

Here's a picture of the kids after their last lessons,

as well as some highlights.

Bentley loves to jump off the diving board.

He also likes to attempt belly flops, which Milo

calls "belly fwo-ups."

Milo came really close to putting his face in the water.

Maxwell swimming.

Jonah with a classmate.

Ruby was the mother hen of her class. She loved it.

Pioneer Day Recap

I still have a difficult time thinking of Pioneer Day as an

actual holiday instead of a pancake breakfast and a bike parade.

But, we sort of celebrated it anyway.

We grilled chicken for dinner, and then Bentley got to light

three fireworks. He wanted to buy a pack of 20 something,

but his Dad wanted ZERO fireworks. I hoped to compromise

by buying a pack of three large fireworks. 

The kids seemed happy, so it was a win on one count.

The kids capped Pioneer Day off by sleeping in the living room

(for the next three nights).